Ne-Yo! Nina here. So, the 18th part is now here for you to read! What could happen to Ran and Shinichi? Well, since Shinichi is going back leaving his Conan body behind, I'd say we just read the story, shall we? :)

Anyways, here we go!

Ran enjoyed her last minutes of school walking along the street as to where her house will be.

She still can't get over the fact about the incident that happened with her and Conan that morning. Was she wrong? Is she just accusing Conan? She still has a lot of thoughts racing through her head.

She was still in a deep thought up until she arrived at the Mouri Agency. The thoughts never ended while she changed clothes.

Ran decided to let go of her thoughts and planned to walk outside the streets. Her civilian clothes were just right for a walk on the park.

As she touched the ground outside her house, she felt a familiar hand poke her on the shoulder. Ran was shocked, wondering whose hand might it be.

Ran whipped her head around, only for the person to be all too familiar to recognize, making tears flow out of her eyes.

Shinichi was right in front of her, his blue eyes gazing into her blue orbs. The sensation of Shinichi being there was incredible; she hasn't seen the teenage boy in, like, months. And she misses him so badly.

That smile wasn't seen right after he disappeared out of nowhere. But now here he is, smiling at her gently.

Shinichi laughed at Ran's reaction at his face. "Don't give me that face, Ran. I've known you since we're young. You aren't like that when I just poke you on the shoulder, are you?" he asked, reminiscing a past that the two of them will never forget.

Ran blinked as a reply, but then giggled quietly. She then hugged Shinichi tightly, making him go into shock before smiling again, patting Ran on the back, who actually started crying. "Don't cry, Ran. I'm here already." his soothing words came into Ran's eardrums.

How could I not cry when you just disappeared in front of me without telling why?! her mind rambled, but she kept hugging Shinichi, sobbing under his chest. Shinichi only comforted her through several soft pats on the back, his eyes leaking a bit.

Ran then let go after the hug and slapped Shinichi hard in the face. "Just where were you?! Why have you disappeared out of nowhere?! Just... ANSWER ME SHINICHI!" she shouted. Shinichi only had his eyes opened up wide, but then closed his eyes, indicating that he is already in a serious mood.

"You'll have to follow me if you want me to answer that question." he said, then grabbing Ran in the arm, leading her to somewhere.

Ran didn't try to let go of him now. She needs to hold on for him to not go away this time. No. Not this time. You'll always be here, Shinichi. I'll not make you disappear. she thought, holding Shinichi's hand right back.

As soon as they got to their destination; which is the park; they sat on the nearest bench that they could find, panting at the same time after running for minutes.

After a few minutes of rest, Shinichi finally pretended to bring in a fit of coughs, breaking their silence. Then he glanced at Ran, whom in turn looked at him so that she could hear his reply.

Shinichi then spoke up, earning more of Ran's attention. "So you wanted to know why I disappeared into midair?" He asked the girl, who nodded.

Shinichi then rested against the bench. Before he could reply to Ran's question, he noticed that drops of water were felt by his whole body. "Huh?" He wondered as he looked up at the sky, Ran doing the same thing.

The rain began to pour down to the ground in the dark night. The two of them did not go anywhere but just feel the rain as it wet their clothes and body.

Another silence between them was broken when she stood up, looking at Shinichi angrily. "You still haven't answered my question yet, Shinichi!" She shouted at him. Shinichi looked at Ran in a bit of shock. He then noticed that Ran looked like...

She was crying.

Ran clenched her fists into balls. "You know, I've always wanted to ask why you disappeared. I've always wanted to know why you aren't there. But now you're here, you have the right to not answer my question?!" She yelled.

Shinichi stood up on his spot. "Ran, calm down. You just weren't patient enough to wait for me. So please, calm down now." He said as he tried to hug her.

Ran gave him a shove as a result. "How could I wait?! You've disappeared for, like, MONTHS! How could I wait for months when it's starting to get really tiring!? I could've put my feelings to someone else but you were the only one I wanted to wait! And now you're here and you're just as calming as I could tell! You don't have feelings, Shinichi!" She yelled. After her shouting, she ran away, running, her tears still flowing out of her eyes.

Shinichi followed her on the way. What does she mean feelings? He asked himself.

Ran and Shinichi continued to chase each other in the rain. Shinichi called out to Ran several times while Ran left him behind her tears crying.

"Ran!" Shinichi called at the top of his voice. "Ran, stop, please!"

Ran did not listen. She continued running past all the buildings that she had crossed on, not stopping at her tracks. Shinichi, why do you have to lie?! Ran thought in the deep anger that she is in.

She finally stopped, whipping her body to Shinichi's direction, making him stop, too.

Ram began to yell out loud. "YOU KNOW YOU HAD A LOT OF TIME TO TELL ME ABOUT YOUR SECRET, RIGHT?! HOW COME YOU NEVER TOLD ME!? ISN'T OUR FRIENDSHIP ENOUGH?!" Ran shouted.

Both of their cheeks were emitting a waterfall of tears that weren't visible in the rain. Shinichi looked at Ran with a face filled with regret while Ran's had a face of fuming anger.

Ran... You don't know what I've been through just to protect you and everyone... He thought.

"TELL ME WHY, SHINICHI!" Ran yelled.

A line of silence rounded between them. Shinichi closed his eyes, still not ready to face Ran.

"It's because I wanted to protect you, Ran!" He shouted back at Ran, who's eyes began to widen in shock.

Protect me? Ran thought in question. What does he mean?

Shinichi went silent for a moment, choking his tears up before opening his mouth. "I WANTED TO PROTECT YOU! DO YOU REMEMBER THOSE MEN IN BLACK AT THE MYSTERY COASTER?! THEY... THEY WERE THE ONES WHO SHRANK ME! WHO TURNED ME INTO CONAN!" Shinichi shouted. "THEY'RE PROBABLY STILL RUNNING AROUND TRYING TO FIND ME! THEY ARE A DANGEROUS GROUP, DON'T YOU KNOW THAT?! THAT'S WHY I KEPT THE SECRET FROM YOU! TO PROTECT YOU! BECAUSE IF YOU KNEW EVERYTHING, THEY'D PROBABLY TARGET YOU AND TAKE YOU AS HOSTAGE! I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN! I DON'T WANT ANYONE THAT I CARED TO BE FALLEN HOSTAGE FOR THAT ORGANIZATION! CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT, RAN MOURI?!"

Ran's eyes widened in shock and concern. Now she knows what it's like to be shrunk by a mysterious group of people. And Shinichi is trying to explain it to her right now.

Shinichi turned around, walking away. But before he left, he glanced at Ran, who was still standing at her spot. "Please try to note the things I said to you, Ran..." He whispered before walking away, tears still present in his eyes.

Ran was left standing all alone when Shinichi left. The rain poured down at her. Kneeling down, she covered her face with her hands, crying her tears. Shinichi... I'm sorry... She thought, still crying.

I never knew...

Hey guys! Nina here! That scene was kinda emotional. Ran, you don't know what it's like to turn back into a child and suffer like a child just like what Shinichi experienced. You nasty girl!

2 parts left to go!

R&R!

- Jail Rose